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Man Charged In Brutal Marshfield Murder Held Without Bail

MARSHFIELD (CBS/AP) — A man was ordered held without bail in the brutal murder of a Marshfield man earlier this month.

James Ferguson, 40, was arrested at his home in Dorchester Saturday for the death of 43-year-old Robert McKenna on Sept. 16 in Marshfield.

Ferguson, a Florida native, was arraigned Monday on murder and burglary charges in Plymouth District Court.

Prosecutors say Ferguson had 46 prior convictions and 100 entries on probation record, according to WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope.

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Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz says two assault rifles were taken from McKenna's home, and they have not been recovered. Gems also went missing from the victim's home.

McKenna had a marijuana-growing operation inside of his home, prosecutors said.

The district attorney also said there is still no definitive motive in McKenna's death, but he was apparently targeted by his attacker.

Investigators believe Ferguson had two accomplices in the attack, and one of them may have been a woman.

Blood was found all over McKenna's home, and a neighbor says she heard voices and five shots, prosecutors say.

Robert McKenna
Robert McKenna. (WBZ-TV).

Police say McKenna was found lying face up on his kitchen floor with cuts to his right upper arm, both hands and the back of his head. He apparently bled to death.

Cruz said DNA evidence led investigators to Ferguson, who once lived in Marshfield.

Police said they are looking for his accomplice.

James Ferguson
James Ferguson. (Photo credit: Plymouth County D.A.)

Residents of McKenna's upscale neighborhood said he talked of diamond-running and hunting big game in Africa.

Anyone with any information in the case should call State Police at (508) 923-4000 or Marshfield Police at (781) 834-6655.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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